IPNEWS: ArcelorMittal Liberia has launched an intensive training program for 16 new Liberian Train Drivers as part of its Phase Two Expansion, reinforcing the company’s long-standing commitment to developing local talent and empowering the next generation of rail professionals. Among this new cohort is Ms. Ophena N. Nimley, who is poised to become Liberia’s first female Train Driver—an inspiring milestone for women seeking careers in male-dominated technical fields. Many of the trainees entered the program with no prior experience but have advanced from Train Assistant Trainees to Train Assistants, and are now progressing toward full certification through a rigorous training pathway that covers safety procedures, locomotive operations, shunting, yard systems, brake technologies, and supervised hands-on practice.
AML’s investment in Liberian locomotive training is rooted in a post-war context where the country had virtually no functioning rail operations workforce. When the company assumed responsibility for the former LAMCO railway in the mid-2000s, the Yekepa–Buchanan rail corridor had been devastated by years of conflict, and the nation lacked trained Liberians capable of operating or maintaining modern locomotives.
AML recognized that rebuilding the infrastructure alone would not sustain operations; the company had to rebuild human capacity from the ground up. This became a central pillar of its long-term operational strategy. Through its Vocational Training Center in Yekepa and a series of apprenticeship programs, AML began developing a new generation of Liberian train assistants, technicians, and operators. These programs evolved into internationally benchmarked training platforms, supported by experienced mentors who guided trainees from basic yard duties to increasingly advanced operational responsibilities.
Today, the impact of these investments is visible across Liberia’s only commercial railway system. The majority of AML’s train drivers, dispatchers, and rail supervisors are now Liberians who rose through the company’s training pipeline. The program has helped create stable, skilled jobs for young people across Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties while ensuring that Liberians remain at the center of the country’s growing mining and rail sectors.
As ArcelorMittal Liberia accelerates its Phase Two Expansion, the strengthened local workforce—now complemented by trailblazers like Ophena Nimley—stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to long-term skills transfer, gender inclusion, and national workforce development. The story of Liberia’s first female Train Driver symbolizes not only individual achievement but also the broader transformation of Liberia’s rail operations into a locally driven and technically capable industry.
